Avery out of ICU

NEW YORK -- Rangers forward Sean Avery was transferred out of the intensive care unit Saturday, and remained hospitalized during recovery from a lacerated spleen.

There was no immediate word when Avery would be released from the hospital, Rangers spokesman John Rosasco said. The rugged winger had been in intensive care since he was injured Tuesday night, with doctors waiting for internal bleeding to stop. That occurred Thursday.

Avery, 28, arrived at St. Vincent's Medical Center after New York's Game 3 playoff loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday. The forward is believed to have been injured during the early portion of the game, but played despite increasing pain.

Regardless of how far the Rangers advance in the playoffs, Avery's season is over. New York trails Pittsburgh in the best-of-seven series 3-1 with Game 5 slated for Sunday afternoon. The Rangers kept the series going with a 3-0 win Thursday night.

The Rangers were 33-14-10 with Avery during the regular season and 9-13-3 when he was out with injuries. He was acquired from Los Angeles in February 2007 and sparked a playoff run in which the Rangers went 17-6-6 in games he played.